By the end of this section, you will be able to: Consciousnessdescribes our awareness of internal and external stimuli. Two theories attempt to answer this question: One theory views hypnosis as dissociation and the other theory views it as the performance of a social role. Aside from their utility as analgesic drugs, opioid-like compounds are often found in cough suppressants, anti-nausea, and anti-diarrhea medications. MDMA (3.4-methelynedioxy-methamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy or Molly) is a mild stimulant with perception-altering effects. The consequences of sleep debt include decreased levels of alertness and mental efficiency. Some animals never sleep (e.g., some fish and amphibian species); other animals sleep very little without apparent negative consequences (e.g., giraffes); yet some animals (e.g., rats) die after two weeks of sleep deprivation (Siegel, 2008). Brainwave activity changes dramatically across the different stages of sleep. d. respond to illnesses much like the older adults do. Insleepwalking, or somnambulism, the sleeper engages in relatively complex behaviors ranging from wandering about to driving an automobile. Sleep is not a uniform state of being. Research shows that the most severe effects of sleep deprivation occur when a person stays awake for more than 24 hours (Killgore & Weber, 2014; Killgore et al., 2007), or following repeated nights with fewer than four hours in bed (Wickens, Hutchins, Lauk, Seebook, 2015). Thus we sleep in safe areas to reduce the chance of harm. Sleep deprivation, in general, is associated with a number of negative consequences (Brown, 2012). Although individuals suffering from night terrors appear to be awake, they generally have no memories of the events that occurred, and attempts to console them are ineffective. Wakefulnessis characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior. There are a variety of drugs that treat restless leg syndrome: benzodiazepines, opiates, and anticonvulsants (Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, n.d.). These same women were awakened during REM sleep in order to provide a detailed account of their dream content. Infants younger than 12 months appear to be at the highest risk for SIDS, and boys have a greater risk than girls. Whether lark, owl, or somewhere in between, there are situations in which a persons circadian clock gets out of synchrony with the external environment. These will soon, in all ordinary cases, subdue the most distressing symptoms, and effect a perfect cure in a day or two. As mentioned earlier, lack of sleep can result in decreased mental alertness and cognitive function. This often results in sleeping problems, and it can lead to signs of depression and anxiety. Mescaline and LSD are serotonin agonists, and PCP (angel dust) and ketamine (an animal anesthetic) act as antagonists of the NMDA glutamate receptor. While the possession and use of marijuana remain illegal in many states, it is now legal to possess limited quantities of marijuana for recreational use in eleven states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Scott Falater had a history of regular episodes of sleepwalking as a child, and he had even behaved violently toward his sister once when she tried to prevent him from leaving their home in his pajamas during a sleepwalking episode. Some research suggests that species that face higher predatory risks sleep fewer hours than other species (Capellini et al., 2008), while other researchers suggest there is no relationship between the amount of time a given species spends in deep sleep and its predation risk (Lesku, Roth, Amlaner, & Lima, 2006). A number of risk factors have been associated with SIDS including premature birth, smoking within the home, and hyperthermia. Some people might turn to over-the-counter (OTC) or prescribed sleep medications to help them sleep, but this should be done sparingly because many sleep medications result in dependence and alter the nature of the sleep cycle, and they can increase insomnia over time. Few people in the United States remain untouched by the recent opioid epidemic. Anopioidis one of a category of drugs that includes heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine. Typically, individuals suffering from night terrors will fall back asleep again within a short time. We experience different states of consciousness and different levels of awareness on a regular basis. Sleep-wake cycles seem to be controlled by multiple brain areas acting in conjunction with one another. There are now several synthetic versions of opiate drugs (correctly called opioids) that have very potent painkilling effects, and they are often abused. Its simply that they feel so overwhelmed and stressed that they cannot fall asleep or stay asleep. Many of these processes, like much of psychological behavior, are rooted in our biology. Thus, K-complexes might serve as a bridge to higher levels of arousal in response to what is going on in our environments (Halsz, 1993; Steriade & Amzica, 1998). This hypnogram illustrates how an individual moves through the various stages of sleep. In contrast, a person who haspsychological dependencehas an emotional, rather than physical, need for the drug and may use the drug to relieve psychological distress. Some newer CPAP masks are smaller and cover only the nose. This disorder is associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons disease. Despite the prevalence of caffeine use and the large number of people who confess to suffering from caffeine addiction, this was the first published description of soda dependence appearing in scientific literature. Getting the optimal amount of sleep has also been associated with other cognitive benefits. There is a tremendous amount of variability among sufferers, both in terms of how symptoms of narcolepsy manifest and the effectiveness of currently available treatment options. (a) This is a statue of a meditating Buddha, representing one of the many religious traditions of which meditation plays a part. As you have learned, drugs can act as agonists or antagonists of a given neurotransmitter system. These effects can occur as a function of accumulated sleep debt or in response to more acute periods of sleep deprivation. In fact, ameta-analysis, which is a study that combines the results of many related studies, conducted within the last decade indicates that by the time we are 65 years old, we average fewer than 7 hours of sleep per day (Ohayon, Carskadon, Guilleminault, & Vitiello, 2004). In some cases, users experience vivid visual hallucinations. Vaping as a means to deliver nicotine is becoming increasingly popular, especially among teens and young adults. In a lucid dream, a person becomes aware of the fact that they are dreaming, and as such, they can control the dreams content (LaBerge, 1990). Methamphetamine in its smokable form, often called crystal meth due to its resemblance to rock crystal formations, is highly addictive. This pattern of brain wave activity resembles that of someone who is very relaxed, yet awake. In addition, these drugs can cause feelings of anxiety, hallucinations, and paranoia (Fiorentini et al., 2011). Asleep spindleis a rapid burst of higher frequency brain waves that may be important for learning and memory (Fogel & Smith, 2011; Poe, Walsh, & Bjorness, 2010). They can be helpful for people working night shifts or for people affected by seasonal variations in light. In individuals diagnosed with a substance use disorder, there is a compulsive pattern of drug use that is often associated with both physical and psychological dependence. One complete menstrual cycle takes about 28 daysa lunar monthbut many biological cycles are much shorter. Hypnosis has also been used to draw out information believed to be buried deeply in someones memory. Unlike the other sleep disorders described in this section, a person withnarcolepsycannot resist falling asleep at inopportune times. The pituitary gland also secretes growth hormone, during sleep, which plays a role in physical growth and maturation as well as other metabolic processes (Bartke, Sun, & Longo, 2013). More specifically, homeostasis is the body's tendency to monitor and maintain internal states, such as temperature and blood sugar, at fairly constant and stable levels. His children and his wifes parents all agreed that Falater had an excellent relationship with his wife and they couldnt think of a reason that would provide any sort of motive to murder her (Cartwright, 2004). In general, these drugs are not thought to possess the same sort of abuse potential as other classes of drugs discussed in this section. As scary as it sounds, many sleep researchers believe that homicidal sleepwalking is possible in individuals suffering from the types of sleep disorders described below (Broughton et al., 1994; Cartwright, 2004; Mahowald, Schenck, & Cramer Bornemann, 2005; Pressman, 2007). Mindfulness meditation has recently become popular. Although she did not experience any dream-like hallucinations, she was diagnosed with narcolepsy as a result of sleep testing. Thecollective unconscious, as described byJung, is a theoretical repository of information he believed to be shared by everyone. For example, withdrawal from sedative drugs often produces unpleasant arousal and agitation. Remarkably, Falater insisted that he had no recollection of hurting his wife in any way. This final section will consider hypnotic and meditative states as additional examples of altered states of consciousness experienced by some individuals. These sleep episodes are often associated withcataplexy, which is a lack of muscle tone or muscle weakness, and in some cases involves complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles. In such instances, the individuals schedule changes so frequently that it becomes difficult for a normal circadian rhythm to be maintained. Complications. As one of their mechanisms of action, cocaine and amphetamines block the reuptake of dopamine from the synapse into the presynaptic cell. The fifth edition of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition(DSM-5) is used by clinicians to diagnose individuals suffering from various psychological disorders. b. absence of signs of malfunctioning. Again, this is an intuitive and appealing explanation for why we sleep. There may also be differences in both brain structure and function in infants that die from SIDS (Berkowitz, 2012; Mage & Donner, 2006; Thach, 2005). Low doses increase relaxation, decrease inhibitions. In other words, physical dependence in and of itself is of limited utility in determining whether or not someone has a substance use disorder. It is not uncommon for people suffering from undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea to fear that their careers will be affected by the lack of sleep, illustrated by this statement from another patient, Im in a job where theres a premium on being mentally alert. There is quite a bit of controversy within the scientific community as to the extent to which marijuana might have medicinal benefits due to a lack of large-scale, controlled research (Bostwick, 2012). In Falaters case, a jury found him guilty of first degree murder in June of 1999 (CNN, 1999); however, there are other murder cases where the sleepwalking defense has been used successfully. Nicotine is highly addictive, and the use of tobacco products is associated with increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and a variety of cancers. The low cost coupled with lower risk of overdose than with opiate drugs is making crystal meth a popular choice among drug users today (NIDA, 2019). In such instances, REM rebound may actually represent an adaptive response to stress in non-depressed individuals by suppressing the emotional salience of aversive events that occurred in wakefulness (Suchecki, Tiba, & Machado, 2012). Not able to pass stool or gas. In recent years, methamphetamine (meth) use has become increasingly widespread. The participant is guided to focus on one thing, such as the hypnotists words or a ticking watch. While there is tremendous variation in any given individuals sleep needs, the National Sleep Foundation (n.d.) cites research to estimate that newborns require the most sleep (between 12 and 18 hours a night) and that this amount declines to just 79 hours by the time we are adults. Like NREM sleep, REM has been implicated in various aspects of learning and memory (Wagner, Gais, & Born, 2001; Siegel, 2001). According to Jung, certain symbols in dreams reflected universal archetypes with meanings that are similar for all people regardless of culture or location. When people have difficulty getting sleep due to their work or the demands of day-to-day life, they accumulate a sleep debt. Our experiences change dramatically while we are in deep sleep and once again when we are dreaming. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. LINK TO LEARNING: To learn more about some of the most commonly abused prescription and street drugs, check out the, LINK TO LEARNING: Feeling stressed? Research indicates that included among these possible benefits are increased capacities for creative thinking (Cai, Mednick, Harrison, Kanady, & Mednick, 2009; Wagner, Gais, Haider, Verleger, & Born, 2004), language learning (Fenn, Nusbaum, & Margoliash, 2003; Gmez, Bootzin, & Nadel, 2006), and inferential judgments (Ellenbogen, Hu, Payne, Titone, & Walker, 2007). Thus, opioid drugs, which mimic this endogenous painkilling mechanism, have an extremely high potential for abuse. A womans menstrual cycle is an example of a biological rhythma recurring, cyclical pattern of bodily changes. To prevent withdrawal, many people turned to cheaper heroin, which could be bought for $5 a dose or less. Not surprisingly, insomnia treatment may take one of several different approaches. One important regulator of sleep-wake cycles is the hormonemelatonin. 1. This section will consider these questions and explore various explanations for why we sleep. Our lives involve regular, dramatic changes in the degree to which we are aware of our surroundings and our internal states. Some view a hypnotized persons behavior not as an altered or dissociated state of consciousness, but as their fulfillment of the social expectations for that role (Coe, 2009; Coe & Sarbin, 1966). Early attempts to treat her condition with a stimulant drug alone were unsuccessful. By the late 19th century, German psychiatrist SigmundFreudhad become convinced that dreams represented an opportunity to gain access to the unconscious. Sleep apnea is much more common in overweight people and is often associated with loud snoring. Feeling tired. Awareness of external stimuli includes experiences such as seeing the light from the sun, feeling the warmth of a room, and hearing the voice of a friend. Body temperature rises throughout the waking day, peaking in the afternoon, and falls during sleep with the lowest point occurring during the very early morning hours. Psychometric analysis indicates that the ISS is composed of four principle components, producing four subscales. Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. While sleep apnea is less common in thin people, anyone, regardless of their weight, who snores loudly or gasps for air while sleeping, should be checked for sleep apnea. Insomnia, a consistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep, is the most common of the sleep disorders. Access for free athttps://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction. Recently, a new EPAP (expiratory positive air pressure) device has shown promise in double-blind trials as one such alternative (Berry, Kryger, & Massie, 2011). This created a black market for the drug, where prices soared to $80 or more for a single pill. In the brain, the hypothalamus, which lies above the pituitary gland, is a main center of homeostasis. That is why individuals suffering from sleep deprivation can also put themselves and others at risk when they put themselves behind the wheel of a car or work with dangerous machinery. Table 4.1shows the new recommendations, which describe sleep durations that are recommended, may be appropriate, and not recommended. This is an important factor because we can develop tolerance and experience withdrawal from any number of drugs that we do not abuse. Humans have an endogenous opioid neurotransmitter systemthe body makes small quantities of opioid compounds that bind to opioid receptors reducing pain and producing euphoria. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. (a) Common paraphernalia for heroin preparation and use are shown here in a needle exchange kit. Train your body to associate the bed with sleeping rather than other activities like studying, eating, or watching television shows. While there are variations, there are four parts that appear consistent in bringing people into the state of suggestibility associated with hypnosis (National Research Council, 1994). Physical dependenceinvolves changes in normal bodily functionsthe user will experience withdrawal from the drug upon cessation of use. c. the ability to spend time, good time with them when youre not feeling absolutely exhausted . Opioids have analgesic properties; that is, they decrease pain. Contrary to popular belief, individuals undergoing hypnosis usually have clear memories of the hypnotic experience and are in control of their own behaviors. These episodes can last 1020 seconds or longer and often are associated with brief periods of arousal. This theory is supported by Ernest Hilgards research into hypnosis and pain. High doses can cause death due to respiratory depression. For example, people who undergo chemotherapy will often be prescribed marijuana to stimulate their appetites and prevent excessive weight loss resulting from the side effects of chemotherapy treatment. Interestingly, since the advent of electric light, the amount of sleep that people get has declined. Heroin can be snorted, smoked, or injected intravenously. Consider a patient who believed that as a result of his sleep apnea he had three car accidents in six weeks. While hypnosis may be useful in enhancing memory or a skill, such enhancements are very modest in nature (Raz, 2011). When we do this, we often experience jet lag. People sleep better in cooler temperatures. In the latter part of 2013, however, the United States Department of Justice issued statements indicating that they would not continue to challenge state medical marijuana laws. Individuals who do rotating shift work are also likely to experience disruptions in circadian cycles. As an individual continues through stage 1 sleep, there is an increase in theta wave activity. These include daydreaming, intoxication, and unconsciousness due to anesthesia. Amphetamines have a mechanism of action quite similar to cocaine in that they block the reuptake of dopamine in addition to stimulating its release (Figure 4.16). People who suffer from insomnia might limit their use of stimulant drugs (such as caffeine) or increase their amount of physical exercise during the day. To keep heroin affordable, many dealers began adding more potent synthetic opioids including fentanyl and carfentanyl to increase the effects of heroin. High doses increase agitation, paranoia, can cause hallucinations. 23. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. As a result, many of us sleep less than 78 hours a night and accrue a sleep debt. The prevalence rates for somatic disorders are often difficult to determine; however, overall estimates of somatic symptom disorder are around 4-6%. Social programs like Medicare: a - offer health coverage for the older adults 24. Moreover, these impairments become more severe as the amount of sleep deprivation increases (Alhola & Polo-Kantola, 2007). 3. Increased prescriptions led to greater rates of misuse, along with greater incidence of addiction, even among patients who used these drugs as prescribed. Whilecaffeineis generally considered a relatively safe drug, high blood levels of caffeine can result in insomnia, agitation, muscle twitching, nausea, irregular heartbeat, and even death (Reissig, Strain, & Griffiths, 2009; Wolt, Ganetsky, & Babu, 2012). These symptoms include fatigue, sluggishness, irritability, andinsomnia(i.e., a consistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep for at least three nights a week over a months time) (Roth, 2007). Our sleep-wake cycle, which is linked to our environments natural light-dark cycle, is perhaps the most obvious example of a circadian rhythm, but we also have daily fluctuations in heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body temperature. The brain waves associated with REM sleep, outlined in the red box in (a), look very similar to those seen (b) during wakefulness. As you will learn when you study social roles, peoples behavior can be shaped by their expectations of how they should act in a given situation. For one, research suggests that infants should be placed on their backs when put down to sleep, and their cribs should not contain any items which pose suffocation threats, such as blankets, pillows or padded crib bumpers (cushions that cover the bars of a crib). Often, we are not completely aware of our surroundings, even when we are fully awake. Manifest contentis the actual content, or storyline, of a dream. Increased alertness, mild euphoria, decreased appetite in low doses. Given the average life expectancy for U.S. citizens falls between 73 and 79 years old (Singh & Siahpush, 2006), we can expect to spend approximately 25 years of our lives sleeping. The body maintains homeostasis for many factors in addition to temperature. Acircadian rhythmis a biological rhythm that takes place over a period of about 24 hours. Avoid anything stimulating for an hour before bed. The participant is encouraged to use his or her imagination. The following describe internal states of symptoms EXCEPT? Interestingly, individuals who have increased levels of alpha brain wave activity (more often associated with wakefulness and transition into stage 1 sleep) during stage 3 often report that they do not feel refreshed upon waking, regardless of how long they slept (Stone, Taylor, McCrae, Kalsekar, & Lichstein, 2008). He suffered from no apparent anatomical brain anomalies or psychological disorders. Medical marijuana is marijuana that is prescribed by a doctor for the treatment of a health condition. Here are some tips to maintain healthy sleep: Aparasomniais one of a group of sleep disorders in which unwanted, disruptive motor activity and/or experiences during sleep play a role. Has something like this ever happened to you? Given that college students are notorious for suffering from significant sleep debt (Hicks, Fernandez, & Pelligrini, 2001; Hicks, Johnson, & Pelligrini, 1992; Miller, Shattuck, & Matsangas, 2010), chances are you and your classmates deal with sleep debt-related issues on a regular basis. While we all experience altered states of consciousness in the form of sleep on a regular basis, some people use drugs and other substances that result in altered states of consciousness as well. Research indicates that meditation may help reduce blood pressure, and the American Heart Association suggests that meditation might be used in conjunction with more traditional treatments as a way to manage hypertension, although there is not sufficient data for a recommendation to be made (Brook et al., 2013). The participant is told to be open to the process of hypnosis, trust the hypnotist and let go. The freebase version of cocaine, known as crack, is a potent, smokable version of the drug. Restless leg syndrome is quite common and has been associated with a number of other medical diagnoses, such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes (Mahowald & Schenck, 2000). For instance, if a woman dreams about being chased by a snake, Freud might have argued that this represents the womans fear of sexual intimacy, with the snake serving as a symbol of a mans penis. AK-complexis a very high amplitude pattern of brain activity that may in some cases occur in response to environmental stimuli. In addition, sleep deprivation often results in depression-like symptoms. (Jayanthi & Ramamoorthy, 2005; Rothman, Blough, & Baumann, 2007). Awareness of internal stimuli includes feeling pain, hunger, thirst, sleepiness, and being aware of our thoughts and emotions. Among a variety of neurobiological evidence, John Hobson cites research on lucid dreams as an opportunity to better understand dreaming in general. There is a trend that females report more somatic symptoms than males; thus, more females are diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder than males (APA, 2022). d. the gender gap between male and female life expectancy has increased. Generally, alcohol is associated with decreases in reaction time and visual acuity, lowered levels of alertness, and reduction in behavioral control. While we have discussed the negative outcomes associated with sleep deprivation, it should be pointed out that there are many benefits that are associated with adequate amounts of sleep. Some people also experience altered states of consciousness through meditation, hypnosis, or alcohol and other drugs.